Classical philosophy and Darwinian biology are far more compatible than is usually assumed. In fact, looking at either from the standpoint of the other can enrich and deepen our appreciation of both. From a Darwinian point of view, the theories of Plato and Aristotle deserve to be taken very seriously. From the classical point of view, Darwinian biology is much less reductionist than its enemies suppose.

Monday, February 25, 2013

Explaining Proximate Causation & Ultimate Causation

Some years ago I attended a NHS
summer institute on biology and politics.Larry Arnhart was a fellow at that event.Roger Masters and Ron Perlman hosted the
event.At one point Roger said that he
had given up trying to explain the distinction between proximate and ultimate
causation to his undergraduate students.They just didn’t get it.

I have found a very simple way
to explain the distinction, which I share now for the edification of my
readers.It goes like this:

My summer school class begins
at 7:30 am, a very uncivilized moment in the day.I ask my bleary eyed students why I got up at
6 am.No mystery there.The alarm clock went off.That, I point out, is the proximate cause of
my waking and reluctantly swinging my feet off the mattress.

Okay.So what is the ultimate cause?After they blink their eyes for a few moments
I exclaim “beer isn’t free!”The light
shines in.